Extras (Updated)

UPDATED: Gov. Andrew Cuomo has dismissed his chief of emergency management, Steven Kuhr, after learning that he deployed government workers to clear a tree from his Long Island home during Hurricane Sandy.

The 2016 race is now officially underway, and US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand “would be a formidable figure if Clinton doesn’t run,” according to ABC News’ Matthew Dowd.

State Conservative Chairman Mike Long said Sen. Steve Saland is near political death because he “took for ganted his base vote,” adding: “It wasn’t Neil Di Carlo that did this to Steve Saland. It was Steve Saland that did this to himself.”

Long still believes Gillibrand is vulnerable despite her big victory yesterday. (Last item).